How longs a piece of string ?

[Angelamarston1963]

Hi I’m sure many of you have been in the position I find my self in . Back in December I started with joint pain , fatigue etc - I’ve had fibro for many years and this just felt different . By Jan I couldn’t work more than 4/5 hrs a day and was making mistakes in my work . I’ve been off work ever since . I’m awaiting a lip biopsy and nerve conduction tests . My rheum told me not lupus might be sjorgens . All bloods are neg . Two weeks ago I started feeling so much better , less pain , tiredness rather than fatigue and was able to start doing normal things (cooking for the first time since Boxing Day !) so despite no having a diagnosis I decided I’d go back to work . My boss is concerned that has I have no diagnosis (or had any treatment ) that I may still be unfit for work - her main concern being that I could potentially make mistakes in my work again . My dilemma is do I go back to work and risk it or wait and see if I get a diagnosis (although I know from posts on this site that could take months/years) the stress of making a decision has increased my pain and I find myself not sleeping well again . I am planning early retirement in Dec this year but really didn’t want to end a very long and successful career either sacked for incompetence or staying if sick 🙁

I’m not sure if I could take retirement through Ill health without a diagnosis or how long the process takes any thoughts & suggestions welcome

Thank you

[Lisalou19]

Hello there.

Sorry to read your troubles.

If I were in your situation I would consider being signed off sick by your gp for a while. I’m sure you can get statutory sick pay for up to 28 weeks. Being signed off sick gives you some grace that you can not be sacked.

Should you run the course of full sick leave then you will have additional options in terms of claiming esa maybe.

Hopefully you can return to good health , but in the mean time sick leave will protect you from being sacked!!!!!

Xx

[Angelamarston1963 in reply to Lisalou19]

Hi Lisalou

Thank you for replying to my post . I suppose my real concern is around loss of pay once my sick pay runs out (I’ve already had nearly 3 months off sick ) I fortunate that I earn a decent salary but no salary plus ESA is daunting !

[Lisalou19 in reply to Angelamarston1963]

You haven’t got long til your early retirement. Surely your employer will have some compassion. Do they know you are planing on retirement early?

X

[Angelamarston1963 in reply to Lisalou19]

Hi keep this in mind every day ! Yes they are aware of my retirement plans . I just find it very frustrating - i went trekking the Great Wall of China in Oct 2017 and now I have difficulty walking 500 metres !

Thank you for your support 😊

[Lisalou19 in reply to Angelamarston1963]

I can understand your frustrations. The hardest bit of suffering any illness is seeing and feeling the change in yourself. Hopefully when you get on some new medication you will start to feel better, and plan on trekking once again.

For now, think of your health. Other problems can be dealt with as and when they arrive. You do not need the anxiety and worry of work right now.

Maybe for the first time ever you need to consider yourself . Xx

[Angelamarston1963 in reply to Lisalou19]

Thank you x

[cpidoc]

Does your work have an Occupational Health Department? Occupational Health specialists would be well placed to advise you.

[Angelamarston1963]

Thank you . Yes it does I asked yesterday if I could be referred to them .

[Hidden]

Good suggestions from others here. I would keep your options open for as long as possible. I’m self employed so this isn’t my area of expertise but I think you can get contributory ESA for up to a year and hopefully you’ll soon get a proper diagnosis and hopefuly a treatment that helps. Lip biopsy result should only take 2-4 weeks to get back I seem to recall. Especially if you phone the hospital who undertake it or ask your GP. 🤞🏽 for some clarity as it really would be a shame if you made decisions too soon based on how you’re feeling now. This is the worse bit. X

[Hidden]

Good suggestions from others here. I would keep your options open for as long as possible. I’m self employed so this isn’t my area of expertise but I think you can get contributory ESA for up to a year and hopefully you’ll soon get a proper diagnosis and hopefuly a treatment that helps. Lip biopsy result should only take 2-4 weeks to get back I seem to recall. Especially if you phone the hospital who undertake it or ask your GP. 🤞🏽 for some clarity as it really would be a shame if you made decisions too soon based on how you’re feeling now. This is the worse bit. X

[Angelamarston1963 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your support . I’ve taken your advice about keeping my options open . Meet with HR & boss yesterday and they are very supportive of me remaining off sick . They have agreed to work with me when I’m well enough to return to work to find the right balance of working hours and responsibilities . I’m very lucky that I’ve worked for this organisation for a long time and in view of the fact I’m retiring in December have taken the view to ease me into retirement !!

I feel much less stress now I’ve made a decision even though the drop in pay when my paid sick leave runs out will be a shock to my system 😂😂

[Hidden in reply to Angelamarston1963]

Well all that sounds very positive - please let us know how you get on with lip biopsy result. 🙂